EoC is preparing a different kind of celebration for its 35th anniversary in 2026. For the first time, instead of a single congress, the global event to be held from May 25 to 30 will be divided into two phases: an immersion in local initiatives in Latin America (May 25 to 27) and then a meeting in Buenos Aires to celebrate and seal joint commitments.
The first phase aims to offer the public an immersive experience in the culture of communion. Small groups will visit about twenty Latin American projects, many of them located in communities with a strong cultural identity that, despite their wealth of ancestral knowledge, face the unequal consequences of the current economic model. The proposal is to promote days of encounter, reciprocity, and coexistence with initiatives that are already seeking paths to a more just and regenerative economy.
Our official website, on the page dedicated to the event, provides detailed information on the initiatives available to choose from. Below are three highlights of this program.
🔴Collective work and cultural identity in Santa María, Catamarca
In Argentina, in the Calchaquí Valley, in Santa María (Catamarca), participants will be able to learn about experiences that highlight the strength of community work and local cultural identity. Among the initiatives inspired by the Economy of Communion are: the Aurora Center, which, through teaching textile art, ceramics, metallurgy, and design, trains entrepreneurs with environmental awareness, social commitment, and fraternal values; Apacha, an EoC cultural center that produces and markets handcrafted products; the Tinku Kamayu Cooperative, made up of women spinners and weavers, which provides income generation opportunities to help them overcome economic vulnerability; and the Musquy community, which offers a responsible tourism experience.
🔴Welcoming, protected childhood, and community at AFAGO-SP, in São Paulo (Brazil)
In Brazil, in São Paulo, in the suburban community of Pedreira, is the headquarters of AFAGO-SP, a social organization that currently serves about 400 children, adolescents, and young people of different age groups in situations of social vulnerability. During the immersion, visitors will be able to walk through the community's alleys and lanes, observe the work of welcoming children, and learn about the housing renovation project that has already restored dignity to more than 700 families. There will also be an opportunity to closely observe the professional training programs for young people.
🔴 Community empowerment in Ecuador
In the province of Esmeraldas, Ecuador, a group called the Network of Ecological Clubs of the Canton of Muisne serves as a safe space and support network for communities severely affected by violence in the region.
By signing up for this initiative, you will be able to follow the community empowerment work that takes place with the support of the Economy of Communion.
Gregorio Pellegrino, a member of the International Commission of the Economy of Communion, emphasizes that immersion in local initiatives should not be confused with tourism. Gregorio states:
“In fact, what we want is for each participant to feel the values of communion by stepping into the communities and enterprises. It is a path that reveals a regenerative economy,”
Informazioni e iscrizioni
The page dedicated to the event on our website: edc-online.org/en/argentina-2026 already offers several options for initiatives for the first phase. Registration is open and can be done directly on the platform.
